HB 5203 Summary

• Amends section 112.061, Florida Statutes to set lodging reimbursement rates at $150 per day for state agency and judicial branch employees attending meetings, conferences, or conventions; employees may use personal funds for lodging exceeding this amount.

• Establishes subsistence allowances for travelers: $80 per diem option or actual expenses for meals ($6 breakfast, $11 lunch, $19 dinner) plus lodging costs when actual expenses exceed $80.

• Creates statewide travel management system administered by the Department of Management Services to collect, store, standardize, and automate agency travel information for planning, approval, expense reporting, and reimbursement.

• Requires executive branch state agencies and judicial branch to report all travel data to the system by November 1, 2018; requires municipalities, counties, local constitutional officers, school districts, state colleges, universities, and water management districts to post monthly travel reports by November 1, 2019.

• Appropriates $1,311,000 in recurring funds and $4,067,000 in nonrecurring funds to Department of Management Services for implementation and authorizes four full-time equivalent positions; takes effect July 1, 2018.